Preventive Dentistry Protecting Ann Arbor Smiles

What Can I Do to Prevent Teeth and Gum Problems?

Caring for your smile can be a tough job. Thankfully, you can find the experienced and kind support you will need throughout the years at our dental office. Dr. Dina Cocco and the rest of the staff are experts at helping patients identify issues like decay and damage, no matter how small, and treating them right away. The more dental problems we can prevent altogether for you and your family, the happier we are! Please feel free to contact us today here in Ann Arbor, MI if you’re interested in scheduling an appointment.

How Often Should I See the Dentist?

Generally, we recommend scheduling a checkup and cleaning twice a year, or once per every six months. This allows us to assess your oral health at regular intervals and catch any troubling signs of dental decay or injury right away before they’re able to develop into more serious problems. Patients can rest assured that our team will handle this process as thoroughly and as comfortably as possible, and we’ll share all our findings with you in full detail.

How Often Should My Child See the Dentist?

We recommend that you first bring in your son or daughter for a quick introductory visit when their first teeth start to emerge from the gums. This allows us to provide you with information about caring for baby teeth, and it helps them become familiar with our practice early on! When the child is old enough to sit still under their own power, they should start attending checkups and cleanings every six months just like an adult does. There’s nothing we love more than being able to care for your whole family here in Ann Arbor.

How Can I Protect My Children’s Teeth?

What children often struggle with in the early years of oral hygiene is being able to maneuver the toothbrush over those hard-to-reach areas at the back of the mouth – particularly the deep chewing grooves on the molars and premolars. Thankfully, Dr. Cocco can help them keep these areas safe by applying dental sealants. Sealants live up to their name by “sealing” the surfaces of back teeth so that food particles can’t gather there and cause cavities.

How Can My Teeth Be Strengthened?

For stronger, less cavity-prone teeth, fluoride is the answer – but what is it? Many patients don’t realize that fluoride is a mineral that appears in most natural drinking water that comes from the tap. It was added there by communities because of the positive effects research has shown it to have on teeth and overall oral health. If you aren’t getting enough regular exposure to fluoride, our team can help by providing a professional fluoride application as a part of checkups and cleanings. This valuable preventive service benefits both children and adults alike!

How Can I Stop Grinding My Teeth?

Bruxism (the professional term for ‘teeth grinding’) is a common problem for stressed-out children and adults, and our Ann Arbor team would like to help you avoid the damage it can cause. We do so by providing our patients with a custom-made nightguard that prevents dangerous contact between teeth and helps you rest easy until morning.

What is an Oral Cancer Screening?

Oral cancer is a dangerous problem that can prove deadly if it’s left untreated – in fact, one person dies from it every hour on average. That’s why our team strongly recommends undergoing an oral cancer screening as an essential part of checkups. During your screening, we will thoroughly review your mouth and jaw for any signs that may point towards cancerous cells, such as suspicious oral sores, lumps, crusts, and more. We also use the Velscope, a handheld light that helps us visualize oral mucosal abnormalities that may not be apparent to the naked eye. If we find cause for concern, we’ll guide you through the next steps towards a successful biopsy and diagnosis.

How Can I Keep My Gums Healthy?

While your teeth may steal the show when it comes to your smile, your gums are their support system, and maintaining their well-being is just as important. Here in Ann Arbor, we perform in-depth periodontal exams as a part of every checkup and cleaning so that we can ensure that the tissue is as full and healthy as it needs to be. If we discover any troubling signs of periodontal disease, we’ll do our best to treat it as soon as possible!

What Happens in a Dental Scaling and Root Planing Appointment?

Scaling and root planing is an in-depth cleaning that can eliminate the infectious bacteria that are causing periodontal disease. Our team will target the vulnerable areas underneath the gum line, as well as the rough surfaces of your tooth roots. By removing damaging plaque and calculus from the area, we can help your smile start healing.